Pseudomarvania, gen. nov (Chlorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae), a new genus for budding subaerial green algae Marvania aerophytica NEUSTUPA et SEJNOHOVA and Stichococcus ampulliformis HANDA

Several unicellular green algae exhibit a unique type of cell division, which can be likened to budding. These algae comprise Spongiochrysis hawaiiensis in Cladophorales (Ulvophyceae) and Stichococcus ampulliformis and species of the genus Marvania in the class Trebouxiophyceae. We determined the 18S rRNA gene sequence from Marvania aerophytica NEUSTUPA et SEJNOHOVA and inferred its phylogenetic position. Our analyses demonstrated that M aerophytica is unrelated to other species of the genus Marvania (including the type species M geminata), but together with S. ampulliformis forms a lineage within a broader clade comprising also species of the order Prasiolales, Desmococcus spp., Gloeotilla spp., and non-monophyletic Stichococcus spp. We discuss morphological characteristics of M aerophytica and S. ampulliformis and based on our results, we propose M aerophytica and S. ampulliformis be reclassified into a newly established genus of budding green algae, Pseudomarvania, as Pseudomarvania aerophytica, comb. nov. and Pseudomarvania ampulliformis, comb. nov.